Victory for Manchester health workers

Over 300 workers at Manchester’s mental health and social care trust have won a victory against their bosses following a campaign that included strike action.

Management had threatened job losses, the regrading of posts and the privatisation of many teams. Following talks at the Acas conciliation service most of these threats have been withdrawn.

It has been agreed that there will be no compulsory redundancies and that all staff will get jobs in community-based teams, rather than on wards. There will be no automatic downgrading of posts.

The threat of privatisation has also been lifted.

Karen Reissmann, the Unison union branch secretary, said, “We showed management that we are serious by taking two days of strike action. My message to every health worker whose job is under threat is that if you fight, you can win.”